In this proof-of-principle study, patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), who are scheduled to initiate treatment per the recommendations of their primary oncologist, will receive a single dose of vincristine 2 milligrams (mg). The objective is to determine if this single dose will induce rapid cell death in isolated CLL cells.

Vincristine 2 mg will be administered to the participants intravenously over 5 minutes. Blood samples will be collected from an intravenous line inserted into the contralateral limb to that where the vincristine was given, at time zero (pre-vincristine treatment), immediately after vincristine administration (within 2-10 minutes upon completion of administration) and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours post-vincristine treatment. Patients will then at a later date receive chemotherapy treatment as prescribed by their primary oncologist.

Within 7 days of vincristine administration, participants will receive a phone call from the research nurse to discuss potential toxicities. At the time of the initiation of standard chemotherapy treatment, the Principal Investigator will also meet with the participant to collect information regarding adverse events.

Patients are planning to start chemotherapy for CLL recommended and prescribed by their primary oncologist.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte count above 20,000/mm3

Be able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.

Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents.

History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to vincristine.

Patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during their participation in the study.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01463852